Medical students from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Weill Cornell Medical College, both in New York City, are pushing back against an op-ed written by the CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, who said "Medicare for All" may not be a viable answer to the United States' care delivery issues.
In a Nov. 2 Business Insider report, Steve Corwin, MD, president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian, said the hospital industry does "a lot of expensive things" and that the industry as a whole needs to "figure out how to reduce costs." However, he said the Medicare for All movement may not be the answer.
Medical students at NewYork-Presbyterian's affiliated medical schools disagree with Dr. Corwin, arguing in a recent op-ed for Business Insider that they, along with several other hospital leaders, believe Medicare for All represents "the only solution for universal coverage and cost reduction."
"Medicare for All is a universal, comprehensive single-payer system in which healthcare is financed by one public agency but privately delivered. It would cover all medically necessary services and eliminate co-pays, premiums, and deductibles, leading to improved financial security when individuals or families get sick. It would also give patients the freedom to choose their doctor," the coalition wrote.
The group noted that while several media outlets and healthcare officials have said Medicare for All would come with a hefty price tag for taxpayers, the cost increases will be more than offset by the elimination of copays, premiums and deductibles, resulting in a net savings for roughly 95 percent of U.S. households, according to data analyzed by the Physicians for a National Health Program and cited by the coalition. The group suggests employers are also warming to the idea of Medicare for All, as employer contribution to premiums per worker has risen roughly 70 percent during the past decade.
"Medicare for All is something all Americans can get behind, because it is for all Americans. It is bigger than any one hospital, insurer, or patient. As future physicians, our goals align with Dr. Corwin's: We want universal healthcare coverage and we want to reduce costs. Medicare for All will do both," the coalition wrote.
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